Why Did Tim Burton Decide to Make Penguin a Deformed Urban Legend Instead of a Mob Boss?

Tim Burton, known for his unique and eccentric filmography, took a slightly unexpected approach when adapting Batman for his 1992 film Batman Returns. One of the most intriguing decisions in the movie is the portrayal of the Penguin, a character who was originally intended to be a straight-up mobster but was instead transformed into a deformed urban legend. Let's delve into the reasoning behind Burton's artistic choices.

Burton's Unfamiliarity with Batman's History

Tim Burton had a unique perspective when it came to the Batman franchise. Unlike other filmmakers who embraced the full complexity and background of the characters, Burton was more interested in the visual and thematic elements he found appealing. He stated, 'I saw a few images I liked in old Batman comic books and took them as the basis of a project I created to amuse myself. I wasn’t trying to adapt the source material; I just wanted a vehicle to retell my usual "angst-ridden outsider with plenty of personality quirks" story once again.' This approach allowed him to focus on elements that were close to his own creative vision rather than adapting a well-established storyline.

Stakes and Suspense in Gotham City

One of the reasons for Burton's decision to make the Penguin a deformed urban legend rather than a simple mob boss lies in the need for heightened suspense and fear in Gotham City. A mobster with only an umbrella fetish, as Burton originally envisioned, would not be enough to make the audience truly dread the antagonist. The stakes needed to be elevated, and the Penguin needed to represent something far more terrifying than merely running a criminal enterprise.

Creating Dualities Between Batman and the Penguin

Burton’s vision for the Penguin goes beyond just a physical deformity or a criminal enterprise; it evokes a deeper duality between Batman and the Penguin. Burton saw the Penguin as the ‘hideous abandoned freak’ that Gotham tries to hide, while Batman represents the ‘handsome favored son of Gotham.’ In this dichotomy, Batman is the face of hope and justice, while the Penguin embodies the darker, more monstrous side of the city. Burton wanted to create a character that had the potential to threaten Gotham's very fabric, forcing the city to confront its deepest fears.

The Charm of Unpredictability

There’s no denying that Tim Burton’s approach to filmmaking is inherently unpredictable. His movies are characterised by their strange and often unsettling atmospheres, which are a large part of their charm. The Penguin’s deformed appearance and his motivations run deep, questioning the societal norms and the acceptance of those who don’t fit in. Burton has a recurring theme of writing outcast characters that are rejected by society, and the Penguin perfectly fits this narrative. His dismissal of the original script, which portrayed him as a crime lord akin to Kasper Gutman in The Maltese Falcon, is a testament to Burton's creative independence.

Conclusion

Tim Burton's decision to depict the Penguin as a deformed urban legend instead of a straightforward mob boss is a pivotal choice that elevates the stakes of Batman Returns. It adds layers of fear and intrigue that go beyond typical crime movie tropes. Burton's unique vision and his unorthodox approach to the character showcase his artistic sensibilities and his ability to create memorable villains that resonate with audiences. As much as we may never know for sure why Burton does things the way he does, it is precisely this unpredictability that makes his work so intriguing and engaging.